Am I wasting my time?
aribbans
Posts: 1
Hi all
Just started my journey - was 252lbs on 20th May and lost 6lbs in 11 days (246lbs on 31st May). Am closely logging all food, pretty much stopped snacking entirely and am doing 45 mins of circuits every weekday and running 3.5 miles at least once a weekend. Was feeling really happy till I weighed again today (a week later) and am still at 246lbs. Why the hell haven't I lost? Is it even worth carrying on trying?
Just started my journey - was 252lbs on 20th May and lost 6lbs in 11 days (246lbs on 31st May). Am closely logging all food, pretty much stopped snacking entirely and am doing 45 mins of circuits every weekday and running 3.5 miles at least once a weekend. Was feeling really happy till I weighed again today (a week later) and am still at 246lbs. Why the hell haven't I lost? Is it even worth carrying on trying?
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Replies
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Don't distress too much. It could be your muscles retaining water for repair. It's good to eat about 5-6 times a day so snacking is fine as long as they're healthy. Make sure you're drinking a lot of water too. You're doing great so far so keep up the hard work!!0
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Not to burst Sydney's bubble but you don't have to eat 5-6 times a day. That's a total myth. And you can eat as early or as late as you want too! Try to up your protein intake and lower your carb intake. And make sure 25% of your calories are fat calories. Very necessary in any diet to keep you functionally correctly
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Don't get discouraged. Make sure that you are imputing your food everyday, Also make sure you are not leaving too much time between meals and that you are eating enough for the amount of activity you are doing. You don't want your body to be stressed during this process. Stay with it!!! You will get there.0
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What works for one person doesn't always work for another. For me eating smaller meals more often has helped boost my metabolism. Also, if I eat late the scales don't budge so I try to not to at least three hours before bedtime. 0
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How do you feel? Your weight does not tell the whole story. You should be looking how your body is changing, I bet your muscles feel tighter. You also said that you were felling happy until you weighed your self, this means that mentally your feeling good.
Remember that your journey to a healthier life is a marathon, not a sprint0 -
Losing weight is like watching paint dry. Keep eating right, and getting in exercise. Take some measurements and forget the scale.0
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You could be retaining water check your sodium intake, you could be building muscle it does weigh more then fat. I would also check and make sure you are logging everything going in to your body, weigh your food make sure you are not over portioning. If you are eating exercise calories back you maybe burning fewer calories then you are are logging which would eliminate any calorie deficit.
It took you a long time to put that weight on don't expect it to come off in a few weeks, please don't think about this as a diet to loose weight if you do you most likely will gain it all back you need to think of this as a diet in the Greek definition "a way of living"
Snacking will not cause you to gain or stop loosing weight unless you do not log the calories. Many people snack throughout the day so they do not feel starved when a meal time comes up which means they do not eat as much during meal times.0 -
How do you feel? Your weight does not tell the whole story. You should be looking how your body is changing, I bet your muscles feel tighter. You also said that you were felling happy until you weighed your self, this means that mentally your feeling good.
Remember that your journey to a healthier life is a marathon, not a sprint
This!
Take your measurements and pay attention to how you feel & how your clothes fit. About a month into my work on MFP, I was discouraged because I was exactly the same weight as the week before. One of my friends suggested I take my measurements, and I'd had lost 1.5" on my waist and 1" on my hips during that week.
It sounds like you're keeping good tabs on your food, just make sure you're eating enough to fuel your body for all that exercise you're doing. Keep trying to find what works for you, and things will start to happen. Good luck!0 -
Hi all
Just started my journey - was 252lbs on 20th May and lost 6lbs in 11 days (246lbs on 31st May). Am closely logging all food, pretty much stopped snacking entirely and am doing 45 mins of circuits every weekday and running 3.5 miles at least once a weekend. Was feeling really happy till I weighed again today (a week later) and am still at 246lbs. Why the hell haven't I lost? Is it even worth carrying on trying?
Try a little patience, please.0 -
It's just one week. I know it's discouraging, but keep doing what you're doing and see what happens next week.
I was 222lbs when I first started exercising and counting calories. I lost 8lbs the first week (mostly water weight, obviously) and the next week I didn't lose ANYTHING! I freaked out too. I was so upset and felt like I was doing something wrong. Since then, I have consistently lost weight weekly. The beginning is hard, but it will become much easier once you start seeing weight-loss trends and get to know your body a bit better.0 -
Yes it's worth it, stay after it. What you are seeing on the scale could be water retention0
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Hi all
Just started my journey - was 252lbs on 20th May and lost 6lbs in 11 days (246lbs on 31st May). Am closely logging all food, pretty much stopped snacking entirely and am doing 45 mins of circuits every weekday and running 3.5 miles at least once a weekend. Was feeling really happy till I weighed again today (a week later) and am still at 246lbs. Why the hell haven't I lost? Is it even worth carrying on trying?
So you're mad that you lost 6 lbs since May 20th and are already wanting to give up? O_o Yes, with that attitude you might as well throw in the towel. Sorry to sound harsh, but what did you really expect? To continue to lose weight at that rate?
You dropped a bunch of water weight very quickly, now there is where the real work comes in. Keep at it, giving up isn't going to get you to where you want to be. Weight loss is never completely linear, and you can't compare to how fast or slow someone else loses. You might want to look at how much (or how little) you are eating. I haven't looked at your diary. The TDEE -20% method is very popular for a reason, it works. Or get some kind of device that tracks your calories burned all day so you know how much to eat and maintain a deficit. There are people in the forums that use all kinds of stuff like the Jawbone, FitBit, I use the BodyMedia LINK armband, and I think there are others.
Bottom line - if you are going to want to give up after not seeing the scale move for just 1 week, you are in for a long and disappointing journey.0 -
Weight loss isn't linear. Sometimes we do everything right and gain or maintain and other weeks we might slack off and still lose. Make sure to keep an eye on the overall trend of losing and not let one week discourage you and make you feel like you are wasting your time. Be patient and good job on your loss so far!0
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I'm with you Sydney, the eating every two hours works for me. My calorie count is actually lower when I eat more often then when I used to eat twice a day. I hate when people say "hate to burst your bubble but it doesn't work". How do you know? Did you try this? Everyone truly does lose weight differently. I know people who have stopped drinking soda and they lost 10 pounds in a month with only that change. I think I've only had 10 cans the past year and a half and no change.
Don't get discouraged OP! Just keep going. The first month is always the hardest for me because you expect everything to happen right away but it is small changes over time. Before you know it, it's been three months and you not only look a lot better, you feel better. I haven't lost that much because it's been 3 weeks, but I feel worlds better.0 -
Weight is not linear. It comes off at different rates. Also, the weight wasn't put on in a month and unfortunately it seems to come off at a slower rate than gaining it. Keep at it, the payoff in the end will be worth it.0
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Eating healthy and being active is absolutely worth it. It's not always about weight loss. You are taking care of your body and living a healthy lifestyle, and that is the most important thing. Don't give up!0
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How are your clothes fitting, have you used a tape measure and taken measurements. Sometimes those are better than the scales.0
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it is worth it - honestly! Double check the accuracy of your logging; weigh your food and consider something like a heart rate monitor to accurately record your calorie burn. The MFP estimates for burns are very often far too high. Stick with it :flowerforyou:0
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There are many reasons you could weigh the same this week. I've been sitting on the same weight for a month. When I took my measurements I had lost a total of 5.5" from various parts of my body. Just because the scale isn't moving doesn't mean that your body isn't changing.
There are any number of reasons you did not lose weight and I would guess it's a combination of things. Just be patient, keep it up and don't get discouraged. No matter how much we all wish it would the excess weight doesn't just disappear as soon as we decide to do something about it. It's so much harder to lose the weight than gain it. In the end it's worth all the sweat and hard work though. Stick with it and one day people won't believe you're the same person.0 -
One, stop being so negative! You lose 6 pounds in under 3 weeks, that's definitely on target for the healthy 2 pound per week goal! AND you're making several wonderful changes for your health by getting active and eating better! Way to go!
Two, as others said, it could be water weight. You didn't say how new you are to working out or working out that much... If this is fairly new to you then you're probably sore. When you're sore, your muscles are retaining water and glycogen as part of the natural healing process. 1 cup of water weighs half a pound (a gallon weighs about 8 pounds) so you can imagine how little water it takes for the scale to stop or even go up a bit when you're retaiing water.
High sodium intake and monthly cycle can also influence water weight.
So as others said, just be patient and keep doing what you're doing.
When I started losing weight, it was coming off great but then totally stalled out for a couple of weeks becuase I started going to the gym. Next week I lost FOUR pounds! Not saying this is what will happen to you exactly but as others have pointed out, weight loss isn't linear. I can't tell you how many times I or my friends got all frustrated from a plateau and then all of a sudden we get a big drop in weight. You have to learn to roll with it.
No need to be in such a rush. You got this!0 -
I'm with you Sydney, the eating every two hours works for me. My calorie count is actually lower when I eat more often then when I used to eat twice a day. I hate when people say "hate to burst your bubble but it doesn't work". How do you know? Did you try this? Everyone truly does lose weight differently. I know people who have stopped drinking soda and they lost 10 pounds in a month with only that change. I think I've only had 10 cans the past year and a half and no change.
Don't get discouraged OP! Just keep going. The first month is always the hardest for me because you expect everything to happen right away but it is small changes over time. Before you know it, it's been three months and you not only look a lot better, you feel better. I haven't lost that much because it's been 3 weeks, but I feel worlds better.
Thanks for the support rosellasweet, I thought that was rude too. :happy:
Everyone's advice on here has been really good too! Weight loss takes time. As long as you're exercising and eating healthy you'll get there! Surround yourself with like-minded people who will help support you and give you good advice like everyone here! 0 -
Never give up.
I think it takes some time to find out what works best for you and your diet/work out plans.0 -
Hi all
Just started my journey - was 252lbs on 20th May and lost 6lbs in 11 days (246lbs on 31st May). Am closely logging all food, pretty much stopped snacking entirely and am doing 45 mins of circuits every weekday and running 3.5 miles at least once a weekend. Was feeling really happy till I weighed again today (a week later) and am still at 246lbs. Why the hell haven't I lost? Is it even worth carrying on trying?
because you lost 6lbs in 11 days.0 -
Don't be a quiter, your body needs time to adjust, obviously you not going to lose weight at the same pace as when you first started.
This is a marathon not a sprint ,stick with the program and tweek it along the wa.y We all have gone through what you're feeling perseverance is the true secret to sucess. if you want it bad enough your will get it.0 -
Do not focus on the number..take pics...measure..focus on how your body looks...how your clothes are fitting...Keep pushing youll get there!!..
It is definetly worth it.....id rather continue to work on my fitness than continue to gain weight!0 -
I definitely agree with some of the others who have suggested that you take measurements and take pictures. The weight loss will slow down, but that doesn't mean you're not doing well. If you're eating well and exercising regularly, then no change in the scale # could just mean that your body is changing.
Keep at it. Stay positive. You lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks - that's still more than most people lose. It's a great start, but it's just a start. If you're not in this for the long haul, then it's never going to work. There will be weeks at a time where that # doesn't change - be prepared for that and, more importantly, be OKAY with that. It happens, it's no big deal. The big deal is that you continue moving forward.0 -
My weight loss was lumpy... I'd hover around a weight for several weeks and then suddenly lose 5 lbs. There was no predicting it, I didn't do anything differently, it just was.
Like many others before me have said, BE PATIENT!! I know instant gratification would be fabulous, but unfortunately weight loss doesn't work that way. Keep at it and you will see results.0 -
Girl keep at it. You see these posts with weight lost, no ones paid to show that. There are real results. Sometimes I'll go two weeks without loosing a pound, then BAM 4 pounds drop off over night.
Sometimes the scale says I drop and I get sad because I don't see results. Sometimes I do see results and the scale says otherwise. Neither are consistently reliable, and they never sync up lol.
It's important to see it as a lifestyle change not a diet. Use this to learn to eat different, see calories as money you have to spend and spend it wisely. Do you want a can of coke or dinner tonight? Half a baked acorn squash to stuff your belly or a small serving of pasta? Is that chocolate bar worth it? Could you be satisfied with half?
It does work.0 -
At first the scale is a secondary measurement of progress, go more by how you feel and how your clothes fit. Losing weight is a complex physical process that can make your scale jump around a bit. Keep at it and don't let it get you down!0
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